The severe freeze to give way to milder weather in coming days

Frost, ice and any patches of freezing fog will be slow to clear today, according to Met Éireann. It will be dry across most of Ulster with sunny spells but some rain or hail showers are expected towards the northwest. After a very cold start afternoon temperatures will range 3 to 5 degrees in light to moderate southwest breezes.

Frost and ice developing for a time early tonight. Outbreaks of rain will move in overnight, falling as sleet or snow in some areas for a time but transitioning back to rain later on. Minimum temperatures of -1 to 2 degrees.

Tomorrow

A wet start on Tuesday with outbreaks of rain and wet snow on hills. Rain and hill snow will become confined to northeast Ulster during the afternoon as generally drier conditions develop elsewhere but remaining rather cloudy with a few patches of drizzle and mist. Staying quite cold in Ulster with afternoon highs of just 3 to 7 degrees in moderate southwest winds.

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

Tuesday night: Generally cloudy overnight with patchy rain and drizzle. However, drier and clearer across the far north of Ulster with a touch of frost possible. Minimum temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees generally, coldest in Ulster but less cold in Munster, with lows of 6 to 8 degrees. Mainly light, occasionally moderate westerly or variable breezes.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle to begin on Wednesday. Rain will turn persistent in the southwest during the morning, extending northeastwards over the country during the afternoon and evening. Some heavy bursts developing with a risk of some localised flooding, especially later in the day. Afternoon highs will range of 3 to 6 degrees in northern and eastern areas, but ranging 7 to 10 degrees further west and south. Light to moderate east to southeast breezes will gradually increase fresh and gusty by evening. Wet and breezy on Wednesday night with outbreaks of rain becoming confined to the Ulster by dawn. Minimum temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees over north Ulster but ranging 6 to 9 degrees elsewhere.

Thursday: Outbreaks of rain are expected to clear from northeastern counties early on Thursday to leave a good deal of dry and occasionally bright weather for a time. However, a further spell of rain is forecast to develop in southern counties during the afternoon and evening. Maximum temperatures on Thursday will range 8 to 11 degrees generally in light to moderate southerly or variable breezes, but still colder in northeast Ulster with highs of just 3 to 6 degrees there. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will affect many areas on Thursday night but there'll be some dry periods too. Minimum temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, coldest in UIster in light variable breezes.

Friday: Current indications suggest Friday with be a cold and breezy day with a mix of bright spells and some showers in the east and south. Maximum afternoon temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees generally, in freshening and increasingly gusty northeast winds, but 7 to 10 degrees in southern counties.

Weekend: Early indications suggest it will be cold with sunshine and a few showers on Saturday. Turning milder from the west, with rain moving in from the Atlantic on Sunday.